Cardiff is the capital and most populous city in Wales. According to recent estimates the city boasts a population of 1.1 million people. Cardiff is a City and County in Wales, which is a Country in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  Wales is traditionally known as a Principality, but is governed by the Welsh Assembly and the UK Parliament in Westminster, England. Cardiff has many assets to reflect it's status as capital:  The Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium, and the Cardiff Bay Barrage, which was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during construction in the 1990's.  In 2005, Cardiff celebrated two significant Birthdays. It had been 100 years since it was granted City status, and 50 years since it was declared Capital of Wales by Edward VII.  A whole host of television programmes, books and websites were commissioned to mark the momentous occasion.

Today Cardiff is the youngest and most dynamic, non-purpose built Capital City in Europe. It's a great place to visit and the ideal base from which to explore the coast, culture and heritage of Wales and the west of Britain. The City is host to many major events, including World Class Rugby, Football and Cricket, the massive Admiral sponsored annual 'Cardiff Festival', Mardi Gras, The National Eisteddfod of Wales and musical concerts both in the stadium and the Cardiff International Arena. Now a modern and vibrant city, the city is not without its heritage. Here is a brief overview of the city's history.

Cardiff was made a city in 1905 by King Edward VII, and was made capital of Wales fifty year later. Cardiff has seen immense development over the last number of years, among which you will find Cardiff Bay which contains the new Welsh Assembly Building and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex.

The Welsh Rugby team reside in Cardiff, with the Millennium Stadium hosting major events such as the Six Nations and the Autumn International Series games. The SWALEC Stadium was the location for the first Ashes Cricket Test Match, between England and Australia in 2009 earning it the title European City of Sports that year.

If you have a preference for sight-seeing, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy the splendour of the Edwardian civic buildings and historic Cardiff Castle, to the imposing Millennium Stadium. The National Museum Cardiff hosts one of the finest impressionist galleries outside Paris, and features works by Monet, Picasso and Rodin. 

Visited by more than 12 million visitors a year, Cardiff has a status as one of UKs top10 destinations. Today, The City has a population of 328,000 .  Cardiff is one of the flattest cities in Britain, and developed as the world's largest coal port, mostly due to its close proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys. It has a maritime climate-with a tendency to be cloudy, wet and windy in winter and sunny in summer. 

Among the many attraction is Cardiff Castle, one of Wales' leading heritage landmarks and a site of international significance. During 2000 years of history, the Castle has been a Roman Garrison, a Norman stronghold and in Victorian times was transformed into a gothic fairytale fantasy with opulent interiors, elaborate cravings and Mediterranean gardens. Excavations indicate that this was only the first of four forts. The Castle was home to many noble families until in 1766, it passed by marriage to the Bute family. The family who made Cardiff into the world's greatest coal exporting port